Written Answers Tuesday 3 June 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12556 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 May 2008, what steps are being taken through the concordat with local authorities to increase prosecution of retailers who sell drink to persons under 18 to meet the standard of enforcement being set in Fife.

Kenny MacAskill: Decisions on prosecution of retailers are a matter for procurators fiscal. The roll-out of test purchasing across Scotland is providing both police forces and licensing boards with valuable information on retailers who irresponsibly and unlawfully sell to those who are under age. Test purchasing operations are now leading to licensing boards suspending licences in respect of premises that have sold alcohol unlawfully.

Blood Donors

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers nucleic acid testing of blood donations to be a higher standard of test than a serological test.

Shona Robison: Nucleic acid detection of viruses in blood, in general, detects positive donations at an earlier stage after the infective episode than antibody or antigen tests. For HIV, for example, a nucleic acid test in general becomes positive after about 11 days after exposure whereas for the current HIV anti-body test this is around 21 days after exposure.

  The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service introduced nucleic acid testing for HIV in November 2002 as an additional test to improve the safety of the Scottish blood supply.

Blood Donors

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering adopting nucleic acid testing for all blood donations as its standard test to meet all statutory and regulatory requirements and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Shona Robison: It is not possible for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service to introduce nucleic acid testing as its "standard" test because the UK Blood Safety and Quality Regulations require an antibody test for HIV and hepatitis C to be performed on each donation as the "standard" test.

  SNBTS use nucleic acid testing as an additional test to improve the safety of the Scottish blood supply.

Blood Donors

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it to be important for any nucleic acid blood testing regime to specify both hepatitis C virus and HIV if it is to be used to test blood supplies in Scotland.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government considers it is important for any nucleic acid blood testing (NAT) regime to specify both hepatitis C virus and HIV. This is the regime carried out by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service to test blood supplies in Scotland. They introduced NAT testing for hepatitis C in 1999 and for HIV in November 2002 following an increase in the number of donations detected as positive for anti-HIV antibody.

Blood Donors

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on why the current invitation to tender for the provision of nucleic acid testing, which caters for the national blood services in England and Wales and Scotland, only specifies a requirement to test for the presence of hepatitis C.

Shona Robison: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is committed to continuing to carry out HIV nucleic acid testing (NAT) on all donations. It has indicated that it would only consider being a party to this tender if HIV NAT were also offered as part of a combined test.

Blood Donors

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that only specifying a requirement to test for hepatitis C in its invitation to tender for its provision of nucleic acid blood testing does not constitute a lowering of standards, given that current nucleic acid testing currently also specifies a requirement to test for HIV.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government supports the commitment of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service to offering a combined nucleic acid test for hepatitis C and HIV.

Blood Donors

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made to the blood testing regime in Scotland over the last 10 years and what consequent amendments have been made to blood donation guidelines.

Shona Robison: The following changes to the blood donation testing regime have been introduced by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service over the past decade:

  By April 1999 all blood for transfusion was tested negative for hepatitis C by both antibody and nucleic acid testing (NAT).

  NAT testing for HIV/AIDS was introduced in November 2002

  Testing for Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1 (HTLV-1) was introduced in August 2002

  Malaria antibody testing of donors with a risk of malaria was introduced in 2004.

  Testing of apheresis donors for anti-hepatitis B core began in March 2005 and testing of platelets for bacteria using the BActAlert system started in 2004.

  Various exclusion criteria for donors have been introduced over the past decade as a risk reduction measure against variant CJD.

  Visitors to the United States must wait at least 28 days after their return to donate as a precaution against West Nile Virus transmission.

Blood Donors

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that adopting a nucleic acid testing system as its standard test regime would constitute reasonable grounds for the relevant bodies to reassess the current blanket ban on gay men donating blood.

Shona Robison: Men who have had sex with men, and who fail to acknowledge this at a blood donation session, have consistently the highest incidence of being HIV positive. This is the case with or without the implementation of nucleic acid testing. Securing the safety of the national blood supply in Scotland is a major priority. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service follows strict United Kingdom and European rules and regulations when collecting and processing blood to make sure it supplies the NHS in Scotland with the safest possible blood. The regulations are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis by medical and scientific experts. We believe it is important to accept this medical and scientific advice.

Business Rates

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the business rate poundage has been in each year since 1999.

Jim Mather: The following table shows the business rate poundage in each year since 1999:

  

 Year
 Rate Poundage


 1999-2000
 48.9p


 2000-01
 45.8p


 2001-02
 47.0p


 2002-03
 47.8p


 2003-04
 47.8p


 2004-05
 48.8p


 2005-06
 46.1p


 2006-07
 44.9p


 2007-08
 44.1p


 2008-09
 45.8p



  Notes:

  1. A poundage supplement has been payable since 2003-04 in respect of business properties with a rateable value which exceeds a prescribed threshold. In 2008-09, the supplement is 0.4p on rateable values above £29,000.

  2. Some non-domestic properties are exempt from business rates, while others may be eligible for reliefs such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme, available for subjects with a rateable value of £15,000 or less.

Communities

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines a sustainable community.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no straightforward definition of a sustainable community. Scottish Planning Policy 1 – The Planning System (SPP 1) states that planning should encourage sustainable development by:

  promoting regeneration and the full and appropriate use of land, buildings and infrastructure;

  promoting the use of previously developed land and minimising greenfield development;

  conserving important historic and cultural assets;

  protecting and enhancing areas for recreation and natural heritage;

  supporting better access by foot, cycle and public transport, as well as by car;

  encouraging energy efficiency through the layout and design of development;

  considering the lifecycle of development from the outset, and

  encouraging prudent use of natural resources.

  The Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative is being taken forward currently and a framework document inviting local authorities and their partners to submit proposals for new sustainable communities will be published in the next few weeks.

Courts

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost is of the renovation work being undertaken at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, including all associated fees and the cost of relocation to alternative premises.

Kenny MacAskill: The current total estimated cost for the refurbishment and extension of Dumbarton Sheriff Court is £11.75 million.

Courts

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the renovation work at Dumbarton Sheriff Court will be completed.

Kenny MacAskill: The refurbishment and extension of Dumbarton Sheriff Court is currently programmed for completion by the end of January 2009.

Credit Unions

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many credit unions have applied for compensation for defaulted loans under its scheme to underwrite the loans of those affected by the collapse of Farepak.

John Swinney: A total of 10 Scottish credit unions applied for compensation for defaulted loans made to Farepak customers. This included eight credit unions based in Glasgow who applied to Glasgow City Council who operated a similar compensation scheme.

Credit Unions

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much finance has been given to credit unions who have applied for compensation for defaulted loans under its scheme to underwrite the loans of those affected by the collapse of Farepak.

John Swinney: Compensation totalling £6,247 was awarded to nine Scottish credit unions that met the eligibility criteria for loans up to the value of £400 made to Farepak customers. This included a payment made to Glasgow City Council for liabilities incurred under the similar scheme it operated for eight Glasgow credit unions.

Crofting

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to re-introduce a tup hire scheme in crofting counties.

Richard Lochhead: In considering future support for crofting, the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting recommended that support for bull hire should only be considered where market failure exists. The previous ram purchase schemes closed in 2004 and we have no plans to introduce a tup hire scheme.

Dentistry

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people were registered with an NHS dentist in each NHS board area in the South of Scotland region in each of the last five years, broken down by age group.

Shona Robison: The information requested is only available from March 2007. The table presents information as at March, June, September and December 2007.

  Percentage of People Registered with an NHS Dentist; by Age Group in the South of Scotland Region1

  

 
 Age Group
 


 Date
 0-2
 3-5
 6-12
 13-17
 18-24
 25-34
 35-44
 45-54
 55-64
 65-74
 75+
 Total


 March 2007
 33.3
 63.7
 70.0
 57.5
 53.5
 49.0
 48.2
 46.3
 42.4
 39.1
 30.4
 48.3


 June 2007
 33.6
 64.3
 70.4
 57.8
 54.7
 49.9
 48.6
 47.1
 43.3
 40.2
 31.4
 49.1


 September 2007
 34.1
 66.6
 72.5
 59.8
 57.8
 52.0
 50.1
 49.1
 45.1
 42.2
 33.6
 51.1


 December 2007
 34.7
 68.5
 74.1
 62.0
 61.6
 54.9
 51.9
 51.2
 46.7
 44.0
 36.0
 53.2



  Note: 1. Based on postcode of practice where patient is registered.

  Source: ISD Scotland.

Dentistry

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population of the City of Glasgow is registered with an NHS dentist, broken down by age group.

Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Percentage of People Registered with an NHS Dentist; by Age Group; in the City of Glasgow Local Authority Area1 at 31 December 2007.

  

 Age Group
 Percentage Registered


 0-2
 45.0


 3-5
 84.9


 6-12
 97.4


 13-17
 85.0


 18-24
 50.7


 25-34
 61.1


 35-44
 75.7


 45-54
 77.9


 55-64
 68.5


 65-74
 52.3


 75+
 43.8


 Total
 67.2



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Note: 1. Based on postcode of practice where patient is registered.

Digital Technology

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average broadband connection speed is in Scotland.

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average broadband connection speed is in each local authority area.

Jim Mather: This information is not held centrally.

Digital Technology

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the provision of fast broadband connections for businesses and residents in remote and island areas in Scotland compared with that in Scandinavian countries and, if not, whether it will consider making such an assessment.

Jim Mather: No such assessment has been made and there are no current plans to undertake one. However, the Scottish Government continues to monitor the rollout of fast broadband speeds on a more general basis across all areas of Scotland as well as key developments elsewhere in Europe and across the world.

Digital Technology

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when people in Straiton, South Ayrshire, will be able to access broadband connections in their homes and businesses.

Jim Mather: The Straiton exchange was initially upgraded for broadband under a Scottish Government contract with BT. This exchange has a broadband product called Exchange Activate which has a limit on take-up. The government has recently become aware of a capacity problem experienced at the Straiton exchange. We are therefore in discussion with BT as to how and when this issue could be resolved

Digital Technology

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are on the waiting list for access to broadband in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency, broken down by postcode area.

Jim Mather: There are 106 premises currently registered by people from the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency who are essentially too distant from their exchange to receive broadband. They are thus included under our broadband reach procurement. The break down by postcode area is:

  

 Postcode
 Registered Premises


 KA4
 13


 KA5
 33


 KA6
 19


 KA7
 2


 KA18
 17


 KA19
 6


 KA26
 10


 DG7
 2


 DG8
 4



  In addition, we are now aware of two confirmed cases in the Straiton exchange, within postcode KA19, which are affected by capacity issues and waiting for access to broadband. This specific issue is being discussed as part of our existing contract with BT for enabling remote exchanges.

Digital Technology

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further increase access to broadband in rural communities.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when all rural communities in Scotland will have access to broadband.

Jim Mather: We plan to bring affordable broadband to all eligible households and businesses in Scotland who notified us of access problems, essentially related to distance from their exchange. This is being achieved through our £3.4 million broadband reach procurement exercise and should increase access within Scottish communities. We now have a preferred supplier and expect to award a contract in June with delivery to be completed within a year.

Drug Misuse

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the numbers were of those prosecuted for being found in possession of drugs and in possession of drugs with intent to supply in (a) Dundee and (b) Tayside in each of the last three years.

Fergus Ewing: The information for the last three years available is given in the following table.

  Persons Prosecuted in Scottish Courts for Drugs Possession Offences1, for Dundee City and Tayside Police Force Area, 2003-04 -2005-06

  

 
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Dundee City 
 
 
 


 Supply and possession with intent to supply drugs
 38
 45
 42


 Possession of drugs 
 263
 234
 243


 Total
 301
 279
 285


 Tayside police force area
 
 
 


 Supply and possession with intent to supply drugs
 150
 168
 163


 Possession of drugs 
 503
 415
 383


 Total
 653
 583
 546



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was generated by all generators in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total Electricity Generated in Scotland
 49,246GWh
 53,609GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was generated by coal in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Electricity Generated in Scotland by Coal 
 12,143GWh
 17,518GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was generated by oil in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total Electricity Generated in Scotland from Oil
 1,902GWh
 2,141GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was generated by gas in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total Electricity Generated in Scotland by Gas
 9,371GWh
 11,634GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was nuclear generated in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total Electricity Generated in Scotland by Nuclear
 18,681GWh
 14,141GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was generated by (a) hydro natural flow and (b) hydro pump storage in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  (a) Hydro Natural Flow

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total Electricity Generated in Scotland
 4,588GWh
 4,225GWh



  (b) Hydro Pump Storage

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total Electricity Generated in Scotland
 643GWh
 1,184GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was generated by (a) thermal and (b) non-thermal renewables in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  (a) Thermal Renewables

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total Electricity Generated in Scotland 
 595GWh
 714GWh



  (b) Non-Thermal Renewables (excluding Hydro Natural Flow)

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total Electricity Generated in Scotland
 1,281GWh
 2,023GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was generated by waste in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total
 43GWh
 29GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total losses for the transmission and distribution of electricity were in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  (a) Transmission loss

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total 
 573GWh
 571GWh



  (b) Distribution loss

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Total
 1,874GWh
 1,826GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was used in pump storage in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  Used in Pumping at Pumped Storage and Other Use by Major Power Producers

  

 2005
 2006


 3,403GWh
 4,267GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was consumed in Scotland in 2007.

Jim Mather: Data for 2007 is not yet available. Data for 2006 was released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in January 2008 and is summarised in the following table.

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Consumption from public supply
 30,859GWh
 30,779GWh


 Consumption by autogenerators
 4,894GWh
 4,896GWh


 Total Electricity consumption
 35,753GWh
 35,675GWh



  More information on energy generation data can be found at the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Electricity

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity was exported in 2007.

Jim Mather: Export data for 2007 is not yet available. This data is produced in a special article in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s "Energy Tends" each December. The "Energy Trends" publication can be accessed by the following link:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

  According to the December 2007 "Energy Trends", published on 10 January 2008, the most recent data for electricity transferred to England is as follows:

  

 
 2005
 2006


 Electricity transferred to England (net of receipts)
 5,628GWh
 10,036GWh

Emergency Planning

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans it has in place to protect the public from food shortages.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government recognises the vital role of all those working throughout the supply chain in ensuring the long-term capacity and capability of our food supply. We have established a Food group, under the Resilience Advisory Board for Scotland (RABS) structure, to bring together key people to define what the issues are that need to be considered and what more government could do to work with the food sector to tackle vulnerabilities during an emergency. This group met for the first time on 15 May 2008.

Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations regarding the introduction of smart meters for domestic gas and electricity supplies and, if so, what the details were of such representations.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has received representations from several organisations on the issue of smart meters for domestic gas and electricity supplies including the Energy Retail Association, energy supply companies, Energy Action Scotland, local authorities and Ofgem.

  In particular, we received 15 representations on smart meters in response to the consultation on a draft energy efficiency and microgeneration strategy which issued in March 2007. Individual responses have already been published on the Scottish Government website. We will shortly be publishing an analysis of all the responses including the Scottish Government’s response to views expressed in the consultation.

  In general, all of the representations we have received were supportive of smart meters as a means to reduce energy consumption.

Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the timetable for rolling out smart meters for domestic gas and electricity supplies in Scotland and, if so, what the details were of such representations.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is supportive of measures which help to reduce energy demand and we recognise that smart meters and real time displays could play a role. We work closely with the UK Government in this policy area and are currently awaiting the results of a major UK-wide pilot to understand the costs and benefits of smart meters. This pilot includes Scottish consumers and it makes sense to await the results of the pilot before further considering the widespread roll-out of smart meters.

Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the benefits to consumers of the introduction of smart meters for domestic gas and electricity supplies and, if so, what the findings were.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is supportive of measures which help to reduce energy demand and we recognise that smart meters and real time displays could play a role. The UK Government is already undertaking a major UK-wide pilot to gain a good understanding of the costs and benefits of smart meters. This pilot includes Scottish consumers and we await the results of the pilot with keen interest.

Enterprise

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-10893 and S3O-3352 by Jim Mather on 25 March and 15 May 2008 respectively, which regeneration projects have been assessed as being of national importance and will remain the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-10893 and S3O-3352 by Jim Mather on 25 March and 15 May 2008 respectively, which regeneration projects are now the responsibility of the Scottish Enterprise regional networks.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-10893 and S3O-3352 by Jim Mather on 25 March and 15 May 2008 respectively, which local regeneration projects will transfer from the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to that of local authorities, broken down by local authority.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-10893 and S3O-3352 by Jim Mather on 25 March and 15 May 2008 respectively, what definitions have been agreed with COSLA, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding what constitutes (a) local, (b) regional and (c) national economic regeneration projects.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-10893 and S3O-3352 by Jim Mather on 25 March and 15 May 2008 respectively, what (a) revenue and (b) capital funding will be transferred from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to each local authority to support their new responsibilities for local economic regeneration in each of the next three financial years.

Jim Mather: Agreement has been reached with COSLA on the key elements of the transfer of local regeneration functions to local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area, in line with the enterprise networks reform package announced last September. No equivalent transfer of regeneration functions is envisaged in respect of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, recognising that organisation’s continuing role in strengthening local communities. The agreement also covers the transfer of Business Gateway functions to local authorities, reflecting their increased responsibility for local economic development activity.

  In line with the agreement, the lead role in local regeneration projects will in future lie with local authorities. There will be a transitional period over the next two to three years during which Scottish Enterprise will conclude its own involvement in a number of such local projects, to ensure continuity of delivery. A list of those projects is set out below. Reflecting the difficulty inherent in categorising such interventions, no firm definition has been set out in the agreement as to what should constitute a local as opposed to regional or national project. However, the list provides an indication as to the range of projects in which local authorities may in future, wish to invest. It has been agreed that the distribution of funding to individual authorities in respect of the transfer of local regeneration functions out of Scottish Enterprise, should be determined in further discussions between the Scottish Government and COSLA.

  

 East Ayrshire
 Kilmarnock, Portland Street upgrade


 East Ayrshire
 Kilmarnock, Heritage Projects


 East Ayrshire
 Kilmarnock Regeneration


 West Dumbarton
 Lomond Towns


 West Dumbarton
 Strathleven Corridor


 West Dumbarton
 Lomond Towns-Balloch


 CEC
 Usher Hall Redevelopment


 CEC
 Capital Streets Grassmarket


 CEC
 Edinburgh Zoo


 CEC
 Edinburgh Public Realm 


 CEC
 Princes Street Development Project


 CEC
 Edinburgh International Gateway


 Stirling
 Stirling City 


 Aberdeen
 Contemporary Arts Centre


 Aberdeen
 Aberdeen City Centre


 Dumfries
 Chapelcross Industry Park


 Dumfries
 Abbotsford Development Plan


 Dumfries
 Gretna Tourism


 Borders
 Hawick Burnfoot


 Borders
 Netherdale Development


 Borders
 Charlesfield Redevelopment


 GCC
 Merchant City Briggait / Public Realm / North Block


 Fife
 Town Centre Redevelopments Kirkcaldy / Dunfermline


 Falkirk
 Bo’ness Waterfront


 Falkirk
 Stirling City - National Wallace Monument


 GCC
 Broomielaw Tradeston 


 GCC
 BSHI Queen Elizabeth Square Roads


 GCC
 Port Dundas Canal Reconnection


 GCC
 Parkhead Townscape Heritage Initiative


 GCC
 Orkney Street


 GCC
 Art School - Visitor Centre


 GCC
 John Wheatley Infrastructure


 Aberdeenshire
 Banff Heritage Renaissance Project Phase 1


 Renfrewshire
 Renfrew Riverside


 Dundee
 Cultural Institution Dundee


 Dundee
 Albert Square & Galleries


 Renfrewshire
 Cart Corridor


 North Lanarkshire
 North Lanarkshire Local Priorities



  In the meantime, Scottish Enterprise will maintain its involvement in larger scale regeneration projects, including those involving urban regeneration companies. In view of this involvement being an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, I shall ask its Chief Executive to write to you, with more detail of such projects.

Fire Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary fires there have been in Tayside in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested is provided in the following table.

  Number of Primary Fires in Tayside Fire and Rescue Service Area, 2004-06

  

 2004
 1,207


 2005
 1,156


 2006
 1,117



  Note: This information is published in the National Statistics bulletin series Fire Statistics Scotland, with Bib. numbers 39206, 42704 and 45584 respectively.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who invited the First Minister to the UEFA Cup final in Manchester in May 2008; what his travel arrangements were, and what the total costs were of his attendance.

John Swinney: The First Minister was invited to the UEFA Cup final by UEFA. He caught a flight from Edinburgh to Manchester in the early evening of 16 May. The First Minister returned from Manchester after the match in a government car. The total cost of the First Minister’s flight was £115.90.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offices are allocated to the First Minister; where they are located, and how many private office staff are based in each location.

John Swinney: There are three offices allocated to the First Minister.

  

 Office Base
 Staff Based in this Location


 St Andrew’s House
 10


 The Scottish Parliament
 0


 Bute House
 0



  Staff periodically work from both the Scottish Parliament and Bute House as required but their main base is in St Andrew’s House.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6214 by Linda Fabiani on 27 November 2007, how the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment considers it possible for Scotland to withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy.

Richard Lochhead: We do not consider it possible to withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy under current constitutional arrangements. An independent Scotland would be, however, in a position to pursue withdrawal.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer S3W 6214 by Linda Fabiani on 27 November 2007, what legal advice the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment received which indicated that it was competent for Scotland to seek withdrawal from the common fisheries policy.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish ministers have frequently made clear that, whilst it would be in Scotland’s interests to withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy, under the current constitutional arrangements the Scottish Government does not have the competence to so do.

Housing

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households do not have access to mains gas, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency.

Jim Mather: A detailed analysis of households which do not have access to mains gas is not held centrally. However, the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) provides information on levels of access to mains gas in each Local Authority area. Information on dwellings within parliamentary constituency is not available.

  The following table shows the estimate of the number of dwellings which are not on the gas grid in each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. The estimates come from the 2005-06 SHCS.

  Estimated Number of Dwellings not on Mains Gas Grid by Local Authority, 2005-06

  

 Local Authority
 Not on Gas Grid
 Percent of All Dwellings


 Aberdeen 
 6,000
 6


 Aberdeenshire 
 39,000
 38


 Angus 
 5,000
 10


 Argyll and Bute
 19,000
 44


 Clackmannanshire 
 2,000
 9


 Dumfries and Galloway 
 20,000
 29


 Dundee 
 2,000
 3


 East Ayrshire 
 3,000
 6


 East Dunbartonshire1 
 0
 0


 East Lothian 
 6,000
 15


 East Renfrewshire 
 1,000
 3


 Edinburgh1
 0
 0


 Eilean Siar 
 13,000
 96


 Falkirk 
 5,000
 8


 Fife 
 11,000
 7


 Glasgow 
 7,000
 3


 Highland 
 60,000
 59


 Inverclyde 
 1,000
 2


 Midlothian 
 4,000
 13


 Moray 
 9,000
 24


 North Ayrshire 
 5,000
 7


 North Lanarkshire 
 3,000
 2


 Orkney 
 9,000
 100


 Perth and Kinross
 16,000
 25


 Renfrewshire 
 1,000
 1


 Scottish Borders 
 14,000
 27


 Shetland 
 10,000
 100


 South Ayrshire 
 5,000
 9


 South Lanarkshire 
 14,000
 11


 Stirling 
 7,000
 19


 West Dunbartonshire 
 1,000
 3


 West Lothian 
 5,000
 8


 Scotland 
 304,000
 13



  Note: 1. In these councils all dwellings in the survey were on the gas grid.

Housing

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to build an affordable home.

Stewart Maxwell: The average cost of building an affordable home for rent in 2007-08 was £129,736.

  The average cost of building an affordable home for low cost home ownership in 2007-08 was £139,297.

  These figures relate to homes funded by the Scottish Government. Information on costs of other forms of affordable homes such as council new build programmes and unsubsidised private sector activity are not held by the Scottish Government.

Housing

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new homes have been built by registered social landlords in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is published as live tables on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildHA.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide separate single-purpose entitlement cards for those individuals who do not wish to have a multi-purpose entitlement card.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to issue a separate single purpose entitlement card.

  There is no compulsion for anyone in Scotland to use a multi-application card, i.e. a number of entitlements on one card. They can, if they wish, choose to have a card which functions only as a travel card, i.e. single entitlement, rather than the full multi-application card.

  However, the national entitlement card helps deliver the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme to older and disabled Scots as well as the young persons concessionary travel scheme. Both these schemes are national schemes and therefore there needs to be a national card which is recognised and works as an electronic ticket across Scotland. In order to be recognised by the different bus companies across the country the card’s appearance and technology needs to be the same as the multi-application cards.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any local authorities or individual schools have made it compulsory for students to use a Scottish national entitlement card to access school meals.

John Swinney: The national entitlement card is not compulsory.

  Local authorities and schools who use the card to access school meals must also provide an alternative method to access the service for those students who do not wish to carry a card. Alternatives include the use of a PIN number, use of name, class, etc.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make Scottish national entitlement cards compulsory for young people to verify proof of age.

John Swinney: Young people, particularly over 18s, have a number of ways of proving their age, e.g. driving licences, student cards etc, and there are a number of cards in circulation which have been accredited under the British Retail Consortium’s proof of age standard scheme (PASS).

  The Scottish Government has provided considerable levels of funding behind the Young Scot national entitlement card which is PASS accredited. However, carrying the card is a voluntary matter and there is no intention to introduce a requirement to carry a compulsory proof of age card.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce an alternative to the Scottish national entitlement card that does not carry a unique reference number.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce an alternative to the national entitlement card.

  The card was introduced to improve choice and convenience for people accessing public services by replacing the various and numerous card schemes currently run by local authorities.

  The number printed on the card is a card number and not a unique reference number. It is not a life long personal identifier. If the card holder moves to a new local authority area a new card will be issued with a new number on it.

  All cards issued by any organisation carry a card number.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific functions a multi-purpose Scottish national entitlement card can serve.

John Swinney: Current priorities of the national entitlement card scheme are to replace the various and numerous card schemes currently run by local authorities, to reduce the number of cards people have to carry and to help make use of the card easier, i.e. one card to access many services.

  The card is currently used for the national concessionary travel schemes and locally, for library services, leisure services, cashless catering, free school meals and secure door entry and similar. The Young Scot version of the card also carries the British Retail Consortium’s proof of age standard scheme logo and offers young people a variety of retail and leisure discounts.

  The local authority services vary between different councils depending on what services they offer and whether they wish to use the national entitlement card to provide access to these services.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all data obtained through application of a Scottish national entitlement card is shared across its directorates.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not have access to any of the data provided by applicants for a national entitlement card. Local authorities are the issuing authority for the scheme.

  Each local authority has access to the records of their own residents only and is the data controller for this information. However, only a handful of staff within each local authority have access to these records.

  Transaction data in relation to individual services will continue to be held separately by local authorities and the only people able to access an individual’s data will be those who are responsible for delivering the services, whether these are concessionary fare services, library or leisure services etc. This is no different from previous systems.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to include an individual’s CHI number or other information on their Scottish national entitlement card in the future, and if so, for what purpose, and whether individuals will be able to opt out.

John Swinney: There are no plans to include an individual’s CHI number on the national entitlement card. There was an initial proposal to include the number on the card (in order to inform individuals of their CHI number and advise them on its use) but that proposal has not been taken forward.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide users of a Scottish national entitlement card with legally binding terms and conditions about its purpose and functions.

John Swinney: Currently, the purpose and the function of the National Entitlement Card and the details of compliance with the Data Protection Act, are included on the application form for the card. The wording used on the form is based upon advice from local authority solicitors and the Information Commissioner’s Office.

  Discussions are currently under way regarding the issue of a separate document to individuals which sets out the terms and conditions of the national entitlement card.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of applicants, when applying for a Scottish national entitlement card, specified that they did not want their personal data to be used for any purpose other than processing their application for free national bus travel.

John Swinney: To date, 34.56% of older and disabled national entitlement card applicants did not wish to share their personal data for purposes other than the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any difference in the information held on a Scottish national entitlement card where an individual did not want their personal data to be used for any purpose other than processing their application for free national bus travel, compared with where they consented to the sharing of data.

John Swinney: There is no difference in the information held on the national entitlement card whether it is a single-application card or a multi-application card.

  The card holder’s name, photograph and the card reference number are printed on the card. In the case of a young person who holds a Young Scot version of the card their date of birth is also included for proof of age standards scheme purposes.

  As the card is a smartcard it holds a chip which contains the minimum information needed to manage the card. This is basic personal details – name, house number and postcode, date of birth and gender as well as, in some cases, information needed by the service(s) the card holder has applied for.

  The card management system also includes name, address, a unique application number, card number and the date of issue, plus any information relating to the re-issue or replacement of a card.

  Card holders can request a copy of the information held on the card management system in accordance with data protection principles.

Identity Cards

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an individual is able to access public services if they do not have a Scottish national entitlement card.

John Swinney: Where it is necessary to hold a card for a particular service, such as the Scotland-wide concessionary travel schemes individuals will require a national entitlement card. This is no different to how previous travel schemes worked.

  However, there is no intention to issue national entitlement cards to the whole population, but they will be issued to those who wish to have one. This will depend on what services local authorities offer and whether they wish to use the card to provide access to these services. Where an individual only wishes to use the card for travel purposes they will need to carry other cards to access their local authority library/leisure services.

Justice

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation establishes the authority of the courts to restrict the identity of a child under prosecution being revealed to the media.

Kenny MacAskill: Section 47 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 prohibits the reporting of the name, address or school, or any particulars calculated to lead to the identification, of any accused under the age of 16 years during any proceedings against them without the court’s permission.

  Section 44 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 provides for the protection of the identity of children involved in a children’s hearing.

Legal Aid

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a cap has been placed on the legal aid budget.

Kenny MacAskill: No cap has been placed on the legal aid budget. The allocation for this expenditure takes account of anticipated demand but additional funds will be provided if that demand is exceeded.

Legal Aid

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the provision in the English legal system for the state to repay costs to defendants who had privately funded their defence because they did not qualify for legal aid and were subsequently found not guilty would have any merit if introduced in Scotland and whether there are any plans to do so.

Kenny MacAskill: The Strategic Review of the Delivery of Legal Aid, Advice and Information (published by Scottish ministers in 2004) considered the question of financial eligibility for criminal legal assistance. The review was not persuaded that there should be universal eligibility for criminal legal aid, and did not propose a general principle that the state should meet privately funded costs on acquittal. The Review considered that the general principle of ability to pay should be applied and that a contributory system would be consistent with that principle. It proposed that under such a system, where costs were met in part through a contribution by the accused person, that contribution should be refunded in the event of an acquittal.

  We have no current plans to introduce such a system but will consider it further as part of a broader consideration of financial eligibility rules for publicly funded legal assistance.

Local Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected (a) revenue and (b) capital underspend or overspend is for each local authority for the financial year 2007-08.

John Swinney: Although responsibility for financial control rests with each local authority, the Scottish Government collects revenue budget and outturn information from each local authority but the provisional outturn information is not yet available for 2007-08.

  Given the rolling nature of capital expenditure plans, which are updated on an on-going basis to reflect new projects, slippage in programmes and revised assumptions on resourcing, the concept of over or underspends on capital expenditure does not apply in this context.

Local Income Tax

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the introduction of a nationally-determined level of local income tax will diminish the status of local government.

John Swinney: No. Under our proposals, all income raised under a local income tax will go to fund local authority expenditure and local authorities will continue to decide how funding for their area is spent. In the consultation paper we issued in March 2008, we recognised that there would need to be an adjustment to local authority funding to take account of differences between the amounts raised under the council tax and under a local income tax and we pledged to work with local government to provide a stable funding environment to ensure people get the vital front-line services they need.

Maritime Issues

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the final report of the Sustainable Seas Task Force.

Richard Lochhead: The work of the Sustainable Seas Task Force is now complete, having fulfilled its remit to input into the development of Scottish Government’s consultation proposals for a Scottish marine bill. There is no final report of the task force’s work but the papers are available on the Scottish Government web pages. The work is being incorporated into the consultation document which will issue in the summer.

Mortality

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the standardised mortality rates were per 1,000 population in (a) NHS Highland, (b) NHS Grampian, (c) NHS Western Isles, (d) NHS Orkney and (e) NHS Shetland in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by deprivation quintile, and how these figures compare with Scotland as a whole.

John Swinney: Standardised death rates per 1,000 population for individual NHS board areas can be found in Vital Events Reference Table 1.3, which is available from the GROS Website via this address:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/vital-events/vital-events-reference-tables-2006/section-1-summary.html

  The other information requested is given in the first table below. It should be noted that:

  some of the figures may not provide a reliable indication of the normal level of mortality (they could be subject to large percentage year-to-year fluctuations because they are based on small numbers of deaths, as shown in the second table below);

  "n-a" indicates "not applicable" - none of the parts of Scotland which fall within the specified quintile are included in that particular NHS board’s area.

  Standardised Death Rates and Numbers of Deaths Registered in Scotland in 2006 - by NHS Board Area1 and SIMD Quintile2

  

 Standardised Death Rate per 1,000 Population3


 SIMD Quintile
 Highland4
 Grampian
 Western Isles
 Orkney
 Shetland
 Scotland


 1
 13.8
 14.5
 n-a
 n-a
 n-a
 14.2


 2
 11.5
 12.0
 11.1
 8.5
 12.9
 11.8


 3
 9.9
 10.4
 9.3
 11.8
 9.2
 10.6


 4
 9.2
 9.9
 7.7
 10.3
 8.6
 9.5


 5
 8.1
 8.4
 n-a
 6.6
 5.7
 8.0



  

 Number of Deaths5,6


 SIMD Quintile
 Highland
 Grampian
 Western Isles
 Orkney
 Shetland
 Scotland


 1
 313
 431
 n-a
 n-a
 n-a
 13,349


 2
 684
 817
 241
 9
 22
 12,440


 3
 1,326
 1,386
 92
 107
 120
 11,304


 4
 867
 1,424
 7
 103
 59
 10,104


 5
 236
 1,188
 n-a
 12
 2
 7,896



  Notes:

  1. Deaths of Scottish residents are counted on the basis of the addresses of their usual residences, as recorded when their deaths were registered; deaths of non-residents are counted on the basis of where they died.

  2. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is produced using a range of statistical information for each of the "datazones" in Scotland, which have 500-1,000 residents each. For Scotland as a whole, quintile 1 contains the most deprived 20% of datazones, and quintile 5 contains the least deprived 20% of datazones, when classified on the basis used for the SIMD; for the NHS boards, the figures for each quintile were produced from the data for those parts that are in each SIMD quintile. As a result, a NHS board may not include any of the datazones which fall into a particular quintile, or the figures shown may have been produced from the data for considerably more, or less, than 20% of the NHS board.

  3. These figures were produced by using the distribution by age of the overall Scottish population for 2006. That is the same method as was used to produce the standardised death rates which appear in Table 2 of "Scotland's Population 2006".

  4. The new Highland NHS board area, i.e. including parts of the former Argyll and Clyde NHS board area.

  5. The total number of deaths from which the standardised death rate was calculated. This may be small because only a small proportion of a NHS board’s area was in a particular SIMD quintile: if so, the standardised death rate for a single year might not provide a reliable indication of the normal level of mortality because there could be large year-to-year percentage changes in the number of deaths. For example, if a particular quintile tended to have around 100 deaths per year, it would not be surprising if its figures fluctuated by 10-20% between one year and the next.

  6. The sum of the figures for all the quintiles may differ slightly from the published total number of deaths for a NHS board’s area. There may be a number of reasons for this: for example, some of the datazones used in the SIMD might not fit properly within the boundary of the NHS board area, or corrections may have been made to some of the underlying data after the published figures were produced.

NHS Boards

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions where the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has asked an NHS board to review a funding decision taken by the board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Boards are responsible for deciding on their priorities for spending, within global financial totals and subject to policy guidelines and frameworks set out by the Scottish Government. In a small number of exceptional cases where I believed earlier decisions were not supportable I asked boards to review them. These cases have been debated in the Parliament.

NHS Finance

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support medical and nursing staff in the NHS whose car use is essential for work, in light of rising fuel costs.

Nicola Sturgeon: I do fully appreciate the concerns being expressed by staff on this issue and can confirm that a UK-wide review of mileage allowances is being taken forward through a mileage allowances sub-group of the UK Staff Council. Meetings of the sub-group have been arranged for the nine and 17 of June and it is hoped that agreement can be reached over any new arrangements.

NHS Staff

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to mitigate the impact of fuel cost increases on medical and nursing staff in the NHS for whom car use is essential.

Nicola Sturgeon: The terms and conditions for NHSScotland medical and non-medical staff allow for the payment of mileage allowances where car use is essential. Mileage allowances are agreed through the UK NHS Staff Council whose membership includes representatives of trades unions and professional representative organisations, NHS employers and UK health departments.

  I can confirm that a mileage allowances sub-group of the staff council has been tasked with conducting a review of mileage allowances taking account of both motoring costs and environmental issues. The mileage allowances sub-group is due to meet on 9 June and 17 June where it is hoped that agreement can be reached over any new arrangements.

NHS Staff

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS boards to minimise the negative impact of medical and nursing staff having to use their cars for work purposes.

Nicola Sturgeon: I can confirm that the up-rating of mileage allowances payable to staff who have to use their car for work purposes was discussed at a meeting of the Scottish terms and conditions committee (STAC) on 29 May. STAC is a partnership organisation which exists to collectively negotiate terms and conditions issues for NHSScotland staff and is made up of representatives of trades unions and professional representative organisations and NHS employers. Meetings are facilitated by the Scottish Government.

  It was agreed at STAC to await the outcome of the UK staff council mileage allowances sub-group tasked with taking forward a review of mileage allowances. The sub-group is scheduled to meet on the 9 and 17 of June where it is hoped that agreement can be reached over any new arrangements.

NHS Staff

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what view it takes on the removal from the Medical Act 1983 of the requirement for pre-registration doctors to be resident at the hospital where they are working.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government view is that the removal of the residency requirement for F1 trainees represents an improvement in their conditions of service, reflecting the improvements in their working hours. It is also our view that as salaries for doctors in training are already competitive even without free accommodation there is no case for increasing salaries to reflect this change.

NHS Staff

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government on the issue of the removal from the Medical Act 1983 of the requirement for pre-registration doctors to be resident at the hospital where they are working.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Executive has made no representations to the UK Government on the issue of the removal from the Medical Act 1983 of the requirement for pre-registration doctors to be resident at the hospital where they are working.

NHS Staff

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with doctors’ representatives, such as the BMA in Scotland, on the removal from the Medical Act 1983 of the requirement for pre-registration doctors to be resident at the hospital where they are working.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government meets with junior doctors representatives at UK level in the relevant Joint Negotiating Council (Juniors), known as JNC(J). In Scotland, the Scottish Government and NHSS employers meet the BMA Scottish Junior Doctor Committee (SJDC) on a regular basis to discuss all matters relating to Junior Doctor’s terms and conditions. The matter of Junior Doctors accommodation was discussed at the JNC(J) meeting on 27 May. It has not to date been discussed with SJDC, but will form part of the agenda at the next meeting, which will take place on 13 June.

NHS Staff

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit to holding discussions with doctors’ representatives on the issue of the removal from the Medical Act 1983 of the requirement for pre-registration doctors to be resident at the hospital where they are working.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are well established mechanisms, both in Scotland and at UK level for discussing junior doctors pay, terms and conditions. It is of course open to the BMA to raise any matters of concern to their members through these mechanisms.

Non-Profit Distributing Model

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12806 by John Swinney on 16 May 2008, what capital projects have been advanced since May 2007 using the preferred non-profit distribution model.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12806 by John Swinney on 16 May 2008, how many projects funded under the non-profit distributing model have (a) been submitted to the Scottish Government for approval, and (b) received approval since 3 May 2007.

John Swinney: There have been two schools projects procured using the non-profit distributing (NPD) model which were approved since May 2007 by the Scottish Government. These were the Aberdeen City and Falkirk school projects. There are currently four projects in various stages of procurement using the NPD model or variation. These consist of three schools projects in Moray, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Orkney and all three were given approval to be taken forward since May 2007. There is also a new NPD project which was approved and has now commenced procurement, the Tayside Mental Health facility in Perth.

  We have recently announced that the Borders Railway project has been approved to be taken forward using the NPD model, with procurement planned for late 2008.

Non-Profit Distributing Model

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12806 by John Swinney on 16 May 2008, what capital projects have been advanced since May 2007 using several delivery options other than PPP or the non-profit distribution model.

John Swinney: There are various funding routes available to public sector organisations for major capital projects other than PFI or the non-profit distribution model. These include direct capital allocations from the Scottish Budget, the prudential borrowing regime for local authorities, and various other forms of partnership delivery with the private sector.

  I refer the member to the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008 (Bib. number 45134) which was published on 28 March for the many projects which we have approved and announced since May 2007. The plan can also be found at the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent.

Ophthalmic Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle dry age-related macular degeneration.

Shona Robison: The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS Boards. The decisions of clinicians in relation to the care of individual conditions are a matter of professional judgement.

  A review of eye care services in Scotland has been published to encourage the development of integrated eye care services to ensure patients receive a good quality and efficient service, in a convenient setting without undue wait. One of the benefits of the review is a re-defined eye examination which allows for the management of a wide range of common conditions in the community.

  The final report of the review was launched in the Parliament on 14 December 2006. Funding of £2.6 million was made available to support the development of eye care services in Scotland.

Ophthalmic Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that treatment costs for dry age-related macular degeneration will reduce as the number of people receiving treatment rises.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are expected to manage costs for the treatment of particular conditions from their overall NHS board funding allocation. Information about individual treatment costs is not held centrally.

Ophthalmic Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase awareness of dry age-related macular degeneration.

Shona Robison: A review of eye care services in Scotland has been published to ensure patients receive a good quality and efficient service, in a convenient setting without undue wait. The final report of the review was launched in the Parliament on 14 December 2006 and funding of £2.6 million was made available to support the development of eye care services in Scotland.

  A central component was the new eye examination introduced from 1 April 2006 which provides a comprehensive examination of the eye tailored to a patient’s needs. The new eye examination also allows for the management of a wide range of common conditions in the community.

Physical Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the SNP manifesto pledge of ensuring that every school pupil has two hours of quality PE each week delivered by specialist PE teachers.

Fiona Hyslop: We have made it clear that as part of Curriculum for Excellence, the Scottish Government expect schools to continue to work towards the provision of two hours good quality PE for each child every week. This is reflected in the Health and Wellbeing draft experiences and outcomes which were released for feedback from, and engagement with, the profession and other stakeholders.

  In our concordat, local authorities have committed to developing and delivering Curriculum for Excellence.

Planning

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it has had to the public consultation on the Proposed Modifications to Finalised Fife Structure Plan (2006).

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government received 172 responses to the proposed modifications to the Finalised Fife Structure Plan arising from Fife Council’s re-appraisal of the housing land requirement.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12920 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 May 2008, how much dedicated funding it has allocated for counter terrorism for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has already allocated £12 million dedicated funding to the Scottish police for counter terrorism this financial year and we are considering proposals for additional funding. This funding is in addition to funding allocated by individual chief constables for counter terrorism work from their overall budgets.

  Funding for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be considered at a later date.

Post Offices

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to provide financial assistance to support rural post offices.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to provide financial assistance to support urban post offices.

John Swinney: Due to their reserved nature, postal services and post offices cannot be directly funded by Scottish ministers. Subject to state aid rules, it may be possible in certain circumstances to support the non-postal activities of sub-post offices, such as the retail element of the business. However, resources to encourage new investment in core and outreach services are a matter for the UK Government to fund under the current constitutional arrangements.

Postal Services

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has submitted evidence to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s (DBERR) independent review of the postal services sector.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will submit evidence to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s independent review of the postal services sector.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what communication it has had with the UK Government and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with regard to the independent review of the postal services sector.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what comments it has made in respect of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s independent review of the postal services sector.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whom it has consulted in respect of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s independent review of the postal services sector.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it plans to carry out in respect of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s independent review of the postal services sector.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not consulted MSPs on the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s independent review of the postal services sector, nor raised the issue in the Parliament.

Jim Mather: Following an invitation from John Hooper, Chair of the Independent Review of the Postal Services Sector on 13 March, the Scottish Government responded to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s review of the postal services sector on 22 May. A copy of that response can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/postalreviewresponse.

  In developing our response we sought the views of a number of Scottish Business Organisations including SCDI, FSB, Scottish Chambers, CBI and Institute of Directors as well as the STUC.

  The independent review team in DBERR invited a wide range of organisations with a direct interest in postal services including mail companies, regulators, consumer and business organisations, unions, Government Departments and political parties to participate in the review.

  There was nothing to stop MSPs from responding direct to the independent review panel if they had so wished and indeed many MPs from all political parties did so.

Pre-School Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time-equivalent (FTE) teachers are currently employed in pre-school settings.

Maureen Watt: The most recent Scottish Government statistics on teacher numbers, based on data collected in September 2007, showed that 1,513 FTE teachers were employed in pre-school settings across Scotland.

Pre-School Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils in pre-school settings currently have access to a teacher.

Adam Ingram: The most recent Scottish Government pre-school and child care statistics show that an estimated 69,930 pre-school children attended centres that had input from a teacher. This represents 63% of children registered in pre-school centres in January 2007.

Pre-School Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to monitor any changes in full-time-equivalent teachers in pre-school settings.

Adam Ingram: Scottish Government statisticians collect data on numbers of full-time equivalent teachers annually via the Pre-school and Childcare Census. Minor adjustments have been made to the 2008 census to allow more detailed information on teacher involvement in pre-school to be collected.

Public Sector

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any services which were provided by the public sector prior to May 2007 but have subsequently been transferred to the private sector.

John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has communicated to disability groups its decision that no changes will be made to the eligibility criteria for the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme, which exclude those on the lower rate of disability allowance, and whether it will also inform all members who supported motion S3M-596 in the name of Angela Constance but who did not vote in favour of motion S3M-1246 in the name of Des McNulty (as lodged), which favoured extending the eligibility criteria to include those on the lower rate of disability allowance.

Stewart Stevenson: No decisions have yet been taken about future eligibility criteria for the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people. The scheme is to be reviewed later this year.

Public Transport

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12777 by Stewart Stevenson on 21 May 2008, whether it will provide a breakdown of attacks on Lothian buses on (a) normal bus services and (b) night buses.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is outlined in the following table.

  

 Year
 Number of Driver and Other Staff Assaults
 Number of Passenger Assaults


 Normal Bus
 Night Bus
 Normal Bus
 Night Bus


 2002
 96
 None Reported
 14
 None Reported


 2003
 92
 None Reported
 35
 None Reported


 2004
 85
 5
 22
 0


 2005
 70
 3
 24
 2


 2006
 88
 3
 36
 3


 2007
 86
 5
 34
 5



  Source: Lothian Buses plc.

Public Transport

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle the number of attacks taking place on Lothian buses.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government attaches the greatest importance to the safety of all passengers and staff using and delivering bus services and will continue to work in partnership with local authorities, transport operators and others on a range of deterrent and enforcement measures to make public transport safer for both passengers and staff.

  Lothian Buses have a number of initiatives in place including a dedicated police officer to tackle bus crime, the issuing of swab kits to bus drivers for the collection of DNA evidence, the provision of CCTV coverage on buses and public awareness campaigns highlighting both the penalties associated with unacceptable behaviour and how the public and staff can help by reporting incidents.

Rail Network

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operational train stations there are, broken down by parliamentary region.

Stewart Stevenson: There are now 346 operational stations in Scotland, including Alloa.

  They are split by the eight regional Scottish parliamentary regions as follows:

  

 Central Scotland
 78


 Glasgow
 53


 Highlands and Islands
 67


 Lothians
 21


 Mid Scotland and Fife
 31


 North East Scotland
 17


 South of Scotland
 19


 West of Scotland
 60

School Meals

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gives to councils regarding the provision of fish in school meals on Fridays.

Adam Ingram: None. It is for local authorities and schools to devise school meal menus which comply with the Hungry for Success recommendations.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all road and bridge projects will be funded by the Scottish Futures Trust when it becomes operational.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which types of hospital projects will be financed by the Scottish Futures Trust.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all schools will be funded by the Scottish Futures Trust when it becomes operational.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what rail projects it proposes to be financed by the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government announced on 20 May the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) initiative to be supported by a new company established in the public sector. The SFT company will be formed this summer and will work with the public sector and market. One of its objectives will be to assist the public sector to produce aggregated strategies for the delivery and funding of infrastructure investment projects.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what form of governance and democratic accountability is proposed in respect of the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: In announcing the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) we published our intentions in the document Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust  (Bib. number 45605). An infrastructure board for Scotland is envisaged made up of senior representatives from across the public sector. It would oversee the SFT delivering its strategic objectives and would input to the future strategic direction of SFT.

  SFT will not alter the lines of statutory responsibility and accountability which apply across the public sector. SFT will itself be accountable through ministers.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the differences are between funding through PPP and the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is different and better than the standard form of PFI funding in three ways. Firstly, SFT will have at its core the non-profit distributing model of finance. This removes the equity element of PFI funding which is the part of the finance that has delivered excessive profits. Secondly, SFT will provide a level of expertise in the development of projects and in the negotiation of contracts that is not available to many smaller public bodies and local authorities. With SFT involvement the public sector will therefore be dealing with bidders on a more equal footing and as a result will be in a position to deliver more competitive and realistic deals. Thirdly, by pooling projects there will be efficiencies in terms of delivery, risk and finance that together will result in savings.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what outside advice it has commissioned in connection with Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust .

John Swinney: Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) was produced by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) delivery team and was endorsed by the Scottish Futures Trust steering group. The delivery team included professional advice from Partnerships UK and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The SFT steering group has representatives from Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, Partnerships UK, and the Council of Economic Advisers.

  The SFT work was informed by many informal discussions with industry and advisory interests, academics, and public sector practitioners, and by the 89 responses to the SFT consultation exercise. This wide ranging consultative background included views and experience from both within Scotland and abroad.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which types of public sector projects will be financed by the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s document Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust  (Bib. number 45605), which accompanied the announcement of our decision to set up the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), sets out the areas where SFT will proceed immediately to assist in effective and more efficient methods of delivery and funding of infrastructure.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what legal form the Scottish Futures Trust Development and Delivery organisation will be established, including details of the legislative framework under which the organisation will be covered.

John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust will be a company. The Development and Delivery arm will be a public sector classified body.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what form of limited liability partnership the Scottish Futures Trust Finance and Investment organisation will have and what legislation governs this.

John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust will be a company. The Development and Delivery arm will be a public sector classified body and the Finance and Investment arm will sit within the private sector.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which private sector companies have expressed support for the concept of the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not collated comments on the Scottish Futures Trust in accordance with this question. All the responses to the consultation exercise have been published, subject to any confidentiality requests, on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk .

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the first project to be financed under the Scottish Futures Trust to commence.

John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) company will be established this summer and will immediately become engaged with delivery and funding issues across a wide range of infrastructure sectors. The formation of at least two "community hubs", including primary/community care facilities, will be early projects developed by SFT.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with COSLA prior to the publication of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust .

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s  Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust publication (Bib. number 45605) was endorsed by the Scottish Futures Trust Steering Group which includes a representative from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. I have written to Councillor Pat Watters, President of COSLA, inviting him to further discussions over the next stage of the Scottish Futures Trust’s development.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanisms it proposes to adopt for public works prior to the Scottish Futures Trust becoming operational.

John Swinney: There is a range of funding mechanisms available to public bodies for investment, and public bodies should continue to use the funding mechanism most appropriate to the investment they are undertaking to secure best value for money. The Government has published its infrastructure investment plan that includes £14 billion of capital investment over the next three years.

  We do not agree with the standard form of PFI being used for mainstream projects which have a standard risk profile as it has allowed excessive returns for private investors. Our preference is for the non profit distributing model to be used for these projects as returns for the private investors are capped and surpluses are returned for the public interest.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which private bodies it expects will contribute to funding projects through the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: There is a wide range of bodies which will be interested in investing and lending to Scottish public projects. Public procurement rules oblige public bodies to invite responses to their requirements through open competition.

Scottish Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what underspend or overspend is projected for each directorate for the financial year 2007-08.

John Swinney: Details of the end year financial position are currently being finalised. I will announce provisional outturn for the Scottish Government when figures become available.

Scottish Government Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what vehicles it has (a) acquired and (b) disposed of since May 2007, broken down by (i) number and (ii) type of vehicle, including buses, lorries, vans, cars and bicycles.

John Swinney: The information requested is shown in the following tables:

  

 Acquired


 Type of Vehicle
 Number


 Cars
 39


 Vans
 3



  

 Disposed


 Type of Vehicle
 Number


 Cars
 43


 Vans
 5



  Note: The tables show the number of vehicles acquired and disposed of over the period 1 May 2007 to 30 April 2008.

Shipbuilding

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to the UK Government on behalf of shipyards on the Lower Clyde in respect of awarding the contract for construction of one or more of the Royal Navy MARS (Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability) vessels.

Jim Mather: Scottish ministers have made a number of representations to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support on behalf of the Scottish shipbuilding industry in respect of construction of Royal Navy Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) vessels.

  We understand the UK Government has now selected four companies to compete for the first class of MARS vessels (the Fleet Tankers contract). None of these companies have indicated to date that they would build the Fleet Tankers in the UK reflecting that capacity in the UK will be taken up with the recent aircraft carriers announcement. We will continue to make representations for Scottish shipbuilding in respect of future and further classes of MARS vessels.

Smoking

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for people who live in tenement accommodation in connection with people smoking on tenement landings.

Shona Robison: As private residential accommodation, tenement flats and related stairs and closes are exempt from the provisions of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005. In these circumstances, any issues which individual occupiers might have in connection with people smoking in communal areas within tenement buildings require to be resolved privately.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12348 by John Swinney on 22 May 2008, how many of the 388,560 students potentially liable to pay council tax would qualify to receive a (a) 100% discount or (b) lesser discount on their council tax.

John Swinney: It is by virtue of being full-time and not part-time that a student is disregarded for the purposes of council tax. Where a part-time student is disregarded or eligible for some form of exemption from council tax, this is unrelated to their part-time student status and no accurate breakdown of the figures regarding part-time students and council tax payment (provided in answer to question S3W-12348) is therefore available.

  Similarly, while a part-time student may be eligible for a 25% single person’s discount that is due to their single as opposed to their student status. And, while other exemptions, discounts or disregards may apply, more important is the likelihood of potential liability for council tax.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified teachers are completing their probationary years.

Maureen Watt: Three thousand, four hundred and fifty-four probationers (1,833 primary and 1,621 secondary) are currently on the 2007-08 induction scheme and are due to complete their probationary year. The vast majority will complete successfully and gain full registration with the General Teaching for Scotland.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken a future workforce needs assessment for special education institutions.

Maureen Watt: All teachers in publicly funded special education institutions are trained primary or secondary teachers and account is taken of them in the annual teacher workforce planning exercise for these sectors.

Telecommunications

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the mobile phone coverage available in remote and island areas in Scotland compared with that in Scandinavian countries and, if not, whether it will consider making such an assessment.

Jim Mather: No such assessment has been carried out and the Scottish Government has no current plans to undertake one.

Voluntary Sector

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people have participated in ProjectScotland schemes in each of the last four years.

John Swinney: ProjectScotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population of Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations. Between 2005 and March 2008 ProjectScotland has placed 2,500 young people into volunteering opportunities.

  Full information about the work of ProjectScotland is available from its Chief Executive at 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

Voluntary Sector

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, young people who participated in Project Scotland schemes in each of the last four years went on to full-time or part-time employment.

John Swinney: ProjectScotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population of Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations.

  Full information about the work and the results achieved by ProjectScotland is available from its Chief Executive at 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

Voluntary Sector

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, young people who participated in ProjectScotland schemes in each of the last four years went on to training or further education.

Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population of Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations.

  Full information about the work and the results achieved by ProjectScotland is available from its Chief Executive at 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

Voluntary Sector

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people have applied to participate in ProjectScotland schemes in each of the last four years.

Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population of Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations.

  Full information about the work and the results achieved by ProjectScotland is available from its Chief Executive at 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

Voluntary Sector

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations in Scotland have benefited from having a Project Scotland volunteer in each of the last four years.

Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population of Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations.

  Full information about the work and the results achieved by ProjectScotland is available from its Chief Executive at 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

Voluntary Sector

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, young people who participated in ProjectScotland schemes in each of the last four years have not found full-time or part-time employment or have not gone on to training or further education following their placement.

Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population of Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations.

  Full information about the work and the results achieved by ProjectScotland is available from its Chief Executive at 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

Young Offenders

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the transporting of children and young people resident in secure units to and from (a) courts, (b) children’s hearings, (c) home visits and (d) hospital and medical appointments.

Fergus Ewing: Reliance Secure Task Management provides transportation for the sentenced children and young people placed in units by Scottish ministers.

  Transportation matters relating to children and young people placed in secure accommodation by Children’s Panels is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.